MEETING — The Mingo Junction Village Council met in regular session Tuesday. Council meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the city building. -- Christopher Dacanay

MINGO JUNCTION — Mayor Judy Ruckman said Tuesday that the village is currently subject to an investigation for alleged employment discrimination.

During the Mingo Junction Village Council’s regular meeting, Ruckman said an investigation has been launched by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission regarding the termination of fire department employees Wesley Ostroff and Rebecca Perry, as well as the placement of Fire Chief Brandon Montgomery on paid leave.

Ruckman terminated Ostroff and Perry’s employment July 8 after they supposedly violated the fire department collective bargaining agreement’s five-day no-call, no-show stipulation.

Ostroff and Perry, who had received temporary protection orders against Assistant Chief Nick Moore, claim the termination was retaliatory and have disputed Ruckman’s decision. Ruckman has since denied moves by council to reinstate the two.

Montgomery, meanwhile, has been under investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Investigations since June 13 for alleged misconduct. Austin Raymond is serving as interim fire chief in his place.

Dated Oct. 10, a letter from the OCRC — provided by Councilwoman Pat Cramblett — identifies Montgomery as the “charging party” in the investigation.

According to the letter, the charge has been filed with the OCRC and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The charge was filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Ruckman said all necessary information has been provided for the investigation, which she’s turned over to the village’s lawyer from the Public Entities Pool of Ohio.

Separately, council discussed next year’s anticipated financial fallout, due to the village’s failure to put an additional 1 percent income tax up for renewal in 2021. Mingo Junction voters in the Nov. 5 general election approved the tax to begin anew in 2025, but the village still expects missing revenue to cause issues next year.

Councilman Jack Brettell expressed concern over what the village would do if available funds became scarce by the end of 2024.

Ruckman said the village “doing the best we can with our circumstances,” with different departments keeping budgets tight in anticipation. The fire department, she noted, agreed to take a wage cut at least until next August.

“It’s apparent we need to save money everywhere we can,” Councilwoman Jodilynn Fitzgerald said, “not only in wages but in equipment funds — everything. We have to hold onto everything we can because we don’t know what it’s going to be like at the end of the year.”

Village Clerk Jay Fabian said it’s still too early to tell how the village will be sitting financially. New tax revenue won’t arrive until 2026, he said, so the true financial hardships are likely to come in 2025.

“We’ll survive,” said Councilman Mark Baker. “The mill shut down, and everyone thought we were done here. And guess what? We’re sitting here. So, we just have to watch our P’s and Q’s, that’s all.”

Also, Ruckman updated council on projects she’s undertaken to procure available funding for the village.

First, Ruckman noted that she, Village Administrator Darrin Corrigan and Councilwoman Patti Mannarino met with officials from the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association to discuss grants that may aid the village’s water and sewer infrastructure, parks and downtown.

OMEGA, in turn, informed them about how to potentially increase the village’s Community Development Block Grant funding, Ruckman said.

Since certain parts of the village are low- to moderate-income, residents in those areas can take part in an anonymous needs assessment survey. The village could then become eligible for more funding if at least 51 percent of residents who respond are shown to meet LMI criteria.

Ruckman said that village residents should watch to receive the surveys, which will be mailed out with individuals’ water bills. Over 400 surveys are expected to be sent.

Second, Ruckman said that she’s working with CT Consultants to plan a brainstorming meeting for the village’s downtown redevelopment plan.

CT Consultants has been contracted by the village to create a market analysis and redevelopment plan centered on six Commercial Street parcels currently occupied by buildings slated for demolition in the spring. A $30,700 grant obtained for the village by the Mayor’s Partnership for Progress will cover expenses for the project’s first phase.

Ruckman said the brainstorming meeting has yet to be scheduled, but it will be open to the public. She encouraged council members to send her names of organizations or individuals that may contribute to the meeting.

Additionally, Ruckman provided council with information regarding an OhioSE and Jobs Ohio economic development training webinar and a “Meet the Funders” webinar meant to connect unfunded projects with potential funding sources.

Ruckman also reported that she was paid a visit on Wednesday by John Carey, director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, who left an open invitation for assistance in case the village were ever in need.

“I just want to thank you for doing your hard work, getting grants and doing some homework,” Baker said to Ruckman. “We appreciate it as a council that you put a lot of work in finding thing, mayor, and I appreciate it myself.”

In other business:

• Council voted to accept First Primary Care’s proposed insurance rates.

• Council entered two executive sessions for compensation and property matters.

• Councilman Adam Peeler was absent but excused.

• Corrigan emphasized that the village’s rubbish pick-ups occur during the last week of the month, from Tuesday through Friday, and asked residents to refrain from putting out rubbish afterward.

• Ruckman reaffirmed that individuals must contact the village ahead of its meeting to be placed on the agenda, in order to speak during the public participation period.

• Mingo Junction Senior Center Director Fred Pernick announced that the newly renovated center will hold an open house from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, featuring chance auctions, food and entertainment.

• Ruckman announced that sponsorships are being sought for Wreaths Across America by the Woman’s Club of Mingo Junctions. Donations can be made by visiting www.WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/OH0331P.

• The village’s light-up night will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the large shelter house of Aracoma Park, Ruckman said. The Steel Valley Regional Transit Authority will provide transportation to individuals. A donation from FEX will provide for hot chocolate, doughnuts and candy. The Indian Creek band and choir will perform during the event. Lights will also be lit up downtown.